236. Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm - directed by Marc Klasfeld

With the death of Michael Jackson I thought we'd take a look at this cover. The cover itself is not bad but the clip is hysterical as they cram as many MJ references as possible here's a list

The music video depicts the band performing in a wrestling ring at a house backyard. It also features numerous references to Michael Jackson:

* The video for the original "Smooth Criminal" is referenced when the band members do the video's anti-gravity lean.
* Various objects and sidewalk panels lighting up is a reference to the video for "Billie Jean." Additionally, an editing technique utilizing several split screens and freeze frames mirrors a similar sequence in "Billie Jean."
* The scene where lead singer Dryden Mitchell stands on a car and screams while its windows explode is taken from the controversial ending of the video for "Black or White".
* Several references are made to "Thriller", including the dance by the old men, the werewolf mask worn by the girl jumping into the pool, and the end of the video where a man turns to the camera with cat's eyes.
* The chimpanzee is a reference to Jackson's pet chimp Bubbles. In addition to that, the chair Mitchell is sitting on during the scenes with the chimp is shaped like a gloved hand.
* The Japanese school girls in uniforms holding the sign reading "We love AAF" is a reference to Jackson's idol status in Japan.

* Lead singer Mitchell rips a ventilation shaft grill from the ground, releasing steam. This is a combined reference to the video for the song "Bad", in which Jackson pulled a grill from a subway wall as well as another scene from the controversial ending of the video for "Black or White" where Jackson danced in steam rising from the ground.
* Michael Jackson-like vocalizations can be heard, including a high-pitched "Whoo!" several times in a row.
* The lead singer Mitchell pulls up his pants to expose his socks, much like Jackson.
* Drummer Mike Cosgrove wears one white studded glove.
* Bobby Edner performs a dance similar to the moves of Jackson. He wears an E.T. shirt, a reference to the E.T. storybook album narrated by Jackson. In an alternate version of the video, he is wearing a surgeon's mask, as Jackson often did in public.
* One man has a tattoo of Elizabeth Taylor on his back. In 1989, Taylor proclaimed Jackson as the King of Pop. The same man also sports lizard and/or cat like eyes, the same as Michael from the end of the Thriller video.